How to Refinance Your Weight Loss Surgery?

Refinancing is a good option for individuals who require money for their medical treatment, including weight loss surgery, and are dealing with shortage of finances. Refinancing helps you rearrange the elements of your liabilities in an appropriate manner via which you can get hold of your finances. It also makes your repayment cycle more systematic […]

See Why Xylitol is the Key to a Brighter Smile

Sugar is the most popular sweetener out there, but did you know that there are a wide range of sugar substitutes available? From Stevia to Nutrasweet, numerous sweeteners are designed to add to the taste of food without the harm caused by sugar. One sweetener actually has proven benefits for your teeth, including the ability to rebuild your enamel and it’s called xylitol. See how xylitol works and how it can be used to improve the health of your smile.

What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is found in various fruits and vegetables, and so it is considered natural rather than man-made. Although there is no sugar found in xylitol, it is classified as a sugar alcohol. As a refined sweetener, xylitol provides no nutritional value but has excellent benefits for your teeth. Most importantly, xylitol does not spike your blood sugar and insulin levels the way that sugar does, making it ideal for those who suffer from diabetes.  

How Does Xylitol Help Your Teeth?

Xylitol provides such excellent benefits for your teeth that many dentists recommend it to their patients. The core reason that xylitol is so excellent for your teeth is simple. The cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar to grow and spread – but they can’t feed on xylitol. This means xylitol essentially starves the bad bacteria in your mouth so they can’t cause plaque and dental problems.

Research on the Benefits of Xylitol

Studies on xylitol have proven that regular usage significantly reduces the presence of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. While friendly bacteria were unharmed in the study, bacteria that are known to cause plaque were decreased by 27-75% among the subjects that used xylitol.

How Can You Use Xylitol?

If you’re ready to experience the dental benefits provided by xylitol for yourself, you have multiple options. Xylitol is available as a gum, mints, mouthwash, or as a sweetener so you can use it however you want. Some examples of xylitol products that can help your smile include:

• Xylo-sweet Natural Sweetener
• Epic Spearmint Gum with Xylitol
• Xylitol Lollipops by Xylitol USA
• Xylitol Mouthwash by Epic

Try Xylitol Products and Keep Your Smile Fresh and Healthy

When it comes to maximizing your oral health, every little effort counts. Although it seems counter-intuitive that chewing gum would legitimately help your teeth, xylitol offers powerful benefits that make a difference. Home oral care goes a long way in keeping your smile healthy, but it’s also important to attend your biannual appointments with your family dentist. Contact Dentistry of Nashville today if you’re ready for yours.  

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Fab Lab — MobileTek Dental Labs

Dental Lifeline Network would like to recognize MobileTek Dental Labs for their dedication to Donated Dental Services (DDS) patients in New York. MobileTek Dental Labs has been volunteering for DDS since 2009.

MobileTek Dental Labs co-owner Marisa Birnbaum

“With our lab being in Manhattan, we always have a lot going on with rush cases, but it’s always nice for us, and our technicians, to take some time to work on Dental Lifeline Network cases.,” said David Birnbaum, co-owner of MobileTek Dental Labs. “Working with DLN has strengthened our relationships with existing dentist clients in the program and it has even connected us with new dental offices in New York.”

Since inception, nationwide dentists and labs have donated over $350 million in comprehensive treatment for more than 116,000 vulnerable people.

“It’s really a win-win for everyone – our lab, the dentists who get to know our lab and of course, most importantly, the patients who receive the care they might not otherwise obtain,” said Birnbaum.

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Medicaid for Weight Loss Surgery

If you lack financial resources to meet your medical bills, you can check your eligibility for government financial assistance rather than delaying the surgery. Medicaid for bariatric surgery can be availed from the government, non-profit organizations, and hospitals upon fulfillment of the eligibility criteria. Usually, individuals seeking treatment desist from getting surgery as they fear […]

How Do These 3 Popular Vices Affect Your Oral Health?

It is a known fact that consuming excess sugar is bad for your teeth, but what about some of the other common habits adults have? While you may be a perfect angel that does not drink, smoke, or engage in any personal vices, there’s no denying that many Americans do, and each of these habits has a different impact on your smile. Rather than ignore these vices as if they’re taboo, let us explore the ways that these three popular American habits affect the smiles of those who use them.

Understanding Our Lives and Habits – What is a Vice?

The definition of “vice” is an immoral or evil habit or practice. While habits like drinking or even using tobacco are considered vices because they are habits that can be harmful to your health, they do not necessarily qualify as being immoral or evil. Ultimately, many Americans participate in at least one of these controversial habits, and while each makes an impact on your overall health, they all take their toll on your smile as well.

How these 3 Popular Vices Affect Your Teeth

It’s completely normal for the average person to have a drink once in awhile, but when any of these habits become a mandatory part of your life, it evolves into a vice. A common trait of all of these vices is that they can lead to psychological or physical addiction, further increasing the risk of using them. Whether through their method of delivery or due to the havoc they cause once in your mouth, all of these cause significant problems for your oral health as well.

1. Tobacco Use

About 50 years ago, smoking was extremely commonplace, and no one would have batted an eye if you lit a cigarette in a restaurant. Decades of research later, we now know that smoking tobacco exposes you to hundreds of chemicals and is a leading cause of lung cancer. Although 1 in 5 deaths in America is due directly to smoking, about 15% of the population still smokes tobacco on a regular basis.

How Does Tobacco Use Affect Your Teeth?

Even worse than the other habits on this list, smoking or chewing tobacco are both among the absolute worst possible things you can do to your teeth. From stains and bad breath to severe gum disease and oral cancer, both smoking and chewing tobacco are death sentences for your smile. The risks of tobacco go far beyond impacting your lungs but can be detrimental to your mouth, teeth, and gums. 

2. Drinking Alcohol

Being someone who consumes alcohol can mean a wide variety of things. One side of the spectrum is the moderate users who may drink responsibly with friends, and the other has those who are alcoholics and binge drinkers who overindulge. Like many addictions, alcohol becomes more damaging to the user the more it’s abused. While severe alcohol use can result in seizures and liver failure, it also leaves its mark on your smile.

How Does Drinking Alcohol Affect Your Oral Health?

The ways alcohol affects your oral health range from inconvenient to terrifying. First, 70% of patients diagnosed with oral cancer are heavy drinkers. Alcohol is also notorious for drying out your mouth and staining your teeth. Plus, different types of alcohol harm your teeth in their own individual ways – for example, beer contains a lot of acids which can damage your teeth. If you choose to drink in moderation, it’s vital to remember the damage it can cause and brush your teeth afterward to minimize harm to your smile.

3. Marijuana Use

With 27 states embracing the legalization of medical marijuana and seven more legalizing it for recreational use, it’s clear that usage of the drug is going to become exponentially more widespread. Although many who are unfamiliar with this drug fear the side effects, the reality is that marijuana has never caused a death and is infinitely safer than tobacco and alcohol. That’s not to say it’s great for your teeth, however – check out the ways that smoking or eating marijuana can take a serious toll on your oral health.

How Does Marijuana Use Impact Your Oral Health?

While marijuana smoke doesn’t contain the over 300 toxins found in cigarettes, the act of smoking can take its toll on your teeth. This is especially evident when it comes to staining. For heavy smokers, infection or edema of gum tissues is a condition that may develop.

In addition to smoking, many dispensaries sell marijuana in the form of edibles. If you choose to use edibles, it’s important to know that just about all of them are baked with extra sugar in order to mask the taste of the marijuana. This means that it’s highly recommended to brush your teeth after using marijuana and to keep an eye out for changes in your teeth.

Your Habits Determine the Health of Your Smile

Americans have a lot of freedom to do what they please, but with that freedom comes the responsibility of keeping your body and smile healthy. Choosing to go all in on any of these vices is a recipe for disaster, but moderate use can still have its place in a healthy, productive lifestyle. Whatever habits you choose to participate in in your adult life, it’s wise to understand the impact it can make on your health, oral and otherwise. Contact Dentistry of Nashville to schedule your next appointment.

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Donated Orthodontic Services (DOS) in New Jersey surpasses $1 million

Donated Orthodontic Services (DOS) in New Jersey has surpassed a milestone $1 million in donated treatment since its inception in 2009!

More than 100 orthodontists and 14 dental labs donate their time and expertise to DOS in New Jersey, which has enabled more than 180 young, low-income children to receive orthodontic care.

Patient Jose and his parents with Dr. Barry Raphael and crew.

DOS is a program of the American Association of Orthodontists and is operated by Dental Lifeline Network.

Dr. Barry Raphael was able to provide the $6,500 in donated orthodontic treatment which surpassed the $1 million mark.

“I have to say it is a remarkable coincidence that after a million bucks worth of work it would be me to push it over the top,” said Dr. Raphael. “That’s the universe saying ‘thanks.'”

Interested in DOS?

Patients – Apply Online Now

Download and Print an Application

Orthodontists – Volunteer Now

 

The post Donated Orthodontic Services (DOS) in New Jersey surpasses $1 million appeared first on Dental Lifeline Network.

See How Jessica’s Track Training Led to Cavities

The teenage years are ripe with new opportunities and experiences and some of those can have a major impact on your smile. Athletics provide an excellent physical relief from the stresses of school, but some of the associated activities can degrade your oral health. Discover how Jessica navigated these challenges as she participated on the track team at her high school.

Jessica Runs Track Her Senior Year and Ends Up with Cavities

Growing up in Davidson County, Jessica was groomed early on to be an athlete. At an early age, her parents had her involved in everything from soccer and softball to basketball and swimming, but as she entered high school, she discovered her true love was running track. While she participated in a wide range of sports her first three years, she heard about a girl getting a track scholarship before she graduated and Jessica was committed – she was going to give it all her senior year and see how good she could get.

Arriving early before each practice, Jessica made sure her thirst was quenched with her favorite sports drink. Her favorite flavor was called “Blue Rush” and she joked with her friends that it made her faster. Five days per week she showed up to the track and ran her heart out. By the end of each session, Jessica felt that her mouth was completely dry, but she would quickly solve the problem with her light-blue thirst quencher.

Jessica didn’t just run hard, but she studied hard to maintain her place in the National Honor Society. This busy schedule meant that more often than not, she was choosing a breakfast she could grab and take on the go, her favorite of which was called Myoplex Lite – specifically the Chocolate Chocolate Chip Flavor. Since it was “Lite” and had protein, Jessica saw it as an ideal way to get the fuel she needed for her tough training sessions.

It wasn’t long before Jessica was beating every personal record with ease, and surprising herself at her performance. “I really do have a shot at being the best on the team.” she thought to herself. She trained diligently for an upcoming race with her school’s rival, but there was a problem. Just a few days before the big race, Jessica woke up with the worst toothache she ever had – It was so debilitating, she made an appointment at Dentistry of Nashville to figure out the problem.  

3 Ways Jessica’s Track Training Caused Her Cavities

1. Jessica Chose to Hydrate with a Sports Drink Instead of Water

While her favorite sports drink did come in cool flavors, it also had enough sugar to immerse her teeth in it with every sip. Considering that it was marketed as an ideal beverage for athletes, Jessica assumed that it would offer nothing but positive benefits for her training. While the cool flavor and the electrolytes may have helped her stay hydrated, the excess sugar took a major toll on Jessica’s smile.

2. Jessica Overcame Her Dry Mouth with More Sports Drink

For those who do heavy cardio such as running, heavy breathing and breathing through the mouth are commonplace. Both of those forms of breathing cause dry mouth, a condition that seems harmless, but it depletes the mouth of its primary defense system, saliva. Had she chosen to rehydrate with water, there wouldn’t have been a problem, but relying on her favorite sugary sports drink made an impact on Jessica’s smile in the long run.

3. Jessica Regularly Eats Sugary Protein Bars

Unfortunately, Jessica was completely fooled by the marketing on her favorite protein bar. The word “lite” combined with the bullets about being natural and having lots of protein led her to believe it was a high-quality food she was eating, but that wasn’t the truth. Not only did her favorite bar contain 15g of sugar, but it was low-quality sugar, including corn syrup and polydextrose. Depending on this sugar-packed protein bar for her energy set Jessica’s teeth up for failure.

Your Decisions Make Your Smile

While having a piece of pie for dessert once in a blue moon won’t hurt you, the problem comes when you’re eating sugary foods on a regular basis. That’s when dental problems like tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease can become major concerns. Even if your brushing and flossing routine is perfect, there is still no substitute for a professional cleaning from your dentist. Contact Dentistry of Nashville today to schedule your next appointment.

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